National Republican., 1887-10-11
THE PIEDMONT EXPOSITION.
A GREAT DISPLAY OF THE INDUSTRY
OF THE SOUTH.
A Large Attendance at tho Opening
Address of Hon. Samuel j Randall,
who Talks About tho Phenomenal
Prosperity OF the New South.

ATLANTA, GA, Oct. 10.-Fairer weather
nor more auspicious circumstances could
not have attended the opening Of the great
Piedmont Exposition. The halls were
filed with displays from the tropics, from
field, and from mine, and the works OF art
We'd with the fertility Of nature In lending
eclat to the scene. The department OF
machinery was especially well filled, while
the poultry show was equal to the best ever
seen in the south. The displays of mer.
chandisc were abundant. Huge blocks
from the manganese, marble, and other
mines gave evidence Of the character Of the
raw material in the Piedmont country,
while the manufactured articles showed
that home work was solving the problem o:
saving money made In the mines. In the
main hall was displayed magnificent specl-
mems Of Atlanta woodwork. All day long
thousands Of people thronged through the
halls, admirlng the tasty displays. The
great interest Of to-day was the reception
OF Mr.. Samuel j.. Randall, whose duty II
was to open the exhibition. Gov. Gordon
introduced the speaker in highly com
plimentary speech.
Immediately after being introduced Mr..
Randall addressed the asscmblage. He
said:
FKLLow CITIZENS: Plato's beautifi, descrip-
tion Of offar-famed Atlantis may be aptly applied
TO the state of Georgia. We behold the extent
and fertility Of the land, with its lofty moun.
its unmeaiured possibilities. The labor the
intelligence of the statesmanship of Georgia,
Il matters not for us to inquire why or where
fore, long Numbered IN the midst OF this great
wealth and knew 1t not. But soon there came
q time when people threw of this lethargy,
and. instructed by the example and success OF
others. and impelled by industrial ambition,
cheered and gladdened this commonwealth d
from one end Of II to the other. The noun.
tains yield up their hidden treasures, the fields
furnish abundant hnrvests the rivers no Ion
ger run idly by, but turn the wheels OF busy
industry, and comfort and plenty, morality aud
good order settle down upon this fair land like
witness the erection Of these splendid
palaces of peace. Here are exhibited the latest
triumphs of labor.saving machines and the
choicest products OF farm, mine, and factory.
They are the true and ture signs Of the pro.
grets and prosperity Of tho people. They are
the outcome from the masses, and not the gift
needs to be learned In these happier days by
those who would keep abreast Of modern
| progress. They are not only the occasion OF
% for what has % already % BEEN % acsomplis%Ssd, % % but
| they serve to stimulate the intelligence, capi-
tai, and labor OF the community. to a greater
buVanCC ana moro cHeCtlVe rebultS.
, In the Mdnutactuers Record, published in
Baltimore, SO recently as the first of the pres.
| ept month, we have a carefully compiled table
exhibiting the marvellous growth Of the south,
| Of new and widely.diversfed industries dur
Ing the first nine months Of the present year
| 1887. We are informed that there are now
over 15,Oo0 more manufacturing establish
| ments In the fourteen southern states than
| there were in 1879, and the list extends
over almost the whole range Of human indus
NVW - GtrNh toll hat rI.a rn1 NaI
| mileage of the south has been increased 15. 900
| miles since 1879, and since that year over
s600,W0,00O have been spent In building new
roads and improving old ones. The assessed
value of property has increased 81, 900 OOo, 900.
| In the production Of pig iron in 1880 and 1886
| the percentage OF increase In the whole coun.
in the south 1t was 100 per cent. In coal min
ing there was an increase of over 100 per cent,
while cotton mills have Increased from $50 to
| $40, and cotton and oil mills from 40 to 161,
with over $40, 900. 600 invested.
A, few words as to your cotton crop. The
production in 1860 was 4.6G9.770 bales. The
Of lS bss bsS m1%s Gsu eo n
| your whole product. The product in 1880 wa,
5,76l ,252 bales The export was 3.Sl0, 1853 bales
Home eonsumption l,95l ,o9s, OF ss per cent ,sss
was 6,676,69l bales. The export was 1883, ,723
bales, or 8i7s per cent of your production. Ex.
in s1s Issf n sS Z ssE @ @ssq' in :s9
crop. Your increase Of production, taking
years oeI, 1850 ana and the 1850 oor.sss va,
liking $50 and iss6, is TX per cent. give
these figures to show the enormous increased
sale In The home market compared with the
| given. To state 1t more succnctly, the home
| consumption in 1St0 was S,57i.t5 bales, and in
1856 II was 229l ,9CS baleS, whit h Is safe meas
Let us examine the cotton yield in money
| The same authority informs us that since 1875
its cotton has sold for g. 500 600 099, or an aver
i6g statement that the south produces 500.
100000 year Of agricultural products. The
humber OF cur new enterprises Tor tht
nine months in lss7 nsro5 Is = 09i asaiIns AIMS
months in 1886. The summing up is that
| for the first nine months Of 1887 there was an
| increase in the sou thern states of capital and
| capital stock invested In new and old enter
prises from Ss3, ,s34 200 in 1886 to S2l2 i55 900 IL
| 1857. Why should / weary you with further
1gures2 Although, ! could furnish them 10
of progress throughout the United States II
almost every avenue of human industry,
The facts are indisputabie, and in addition
thereto, and still further enhancing the i'm
take from this increase in all the element
and appliances OF national wealth, we ar
furnished by Edward Atkinson, high an
J thority, and generally a recognized expert II
I all matters Of economic science, with carefully
prepared tables, the result Of his far. reach ms
and minute Investigations which give uS thu
1
ard prices are measured, the average is fount
| TO be lower at the present time than at an!
period since date anterior to the year 1850
California, and little later from from Australia, be
gan to affect the volume of the money metals o
the world. use the very language OF Mr.
Atkinson himtelf, for II shows unmiBtakably
that practical experience and a study of the
world Of business In Its multitudiuous opera
tlons deserve more consideration IN proyidlni
fSr the future ,hap the mere declaraI,ons ,5J
the cost OF the materials for food, Of material
for clothing, boots and shoes, aud OF fuel, tha
all tho elements OF life, have declined yer,
greatly in their prices. II appears further tina
while the purchasing power OF day or q year!
labor has Increased since 1860 from 40 per cent
to 20 per cent, according to the grade or skill
los per cent. since 1865, the earning powe
OF capital, considered without regard Z
the skill OF its owner. has diminished
absolutely one half, and relatively at least x
per cent since 1860. He states as a conse
quence OF the great reduction in prices tina
the millions have gained highways; that hun
better homes and greater comfort in life Will
those who have suffered temporary loss hay
been only the rich, who have beon incapabl
OF adjusting themselves 70 the new conditions tn
| ie grasp the greater opportunities for welfar
which Invention has offered them. This is hi
language, not mine. These facts furnish bp
a small part OF the whole truth, but enough
given TO indicate sufficiently the amazing
growth in national resources, Industrial ener'
Ries, and general welfare OF the southern peo
pie A. the same time they Indicate th'
extent OF the progress Of the entire country
The search after tho truth hi,
exposed iallacies OF science a
well as falsehoods in history. II has
for example, bean declared with dOginhtl
energy and persistence thst under certain con
ditiolk nf duties on imports the prices OF fsoC
Of labor would be lower Now. 1t has beer
demonstrated by the Investigations to whicl
| have alluded that In the years since 1860 tn
| revere has been actually proven to be thu
| fact, by whatever hiaudArd tested, and tn
| prices of food and clOlhing have neen reduced
| the wages OF labor increased, aud the profits o
| capital lessened. While those whose theories
| pTl dolions, and selfish Interests have Contem
| nininh The IA nllnrn and nlLcnmllInrn of tho nnN